A currently-controversial question - should Turkey be allowed to join the EU?

On the plus side, it'd improve ties with Turkey (already an important NATO member), it'd show that the EU is more than a club of rich white Christian nations, and it'd be a chance to spread European ideals of equality and tolerance into the Middle East. It'd also make it a little easier to go on holiday there, if they joined the Euro.

On the minus side, Turkey has a much lower standard of living and there'd be a risk of a rush of immigrants once the borders are "removed". Turkey has a bad terrorist problem which could be exported to the EU more easily, and they have a pretty poor human rights record too. Perhaps most importantly there are 70 million muslims living there - which could threaten to change the character of the EU as Turkey will be one of the largest countries in the EU. Oh, and the Greeks hate the Turks too...

EU ministers have been haggling over whether to admit Turkey, and it looks like the "Yes" camp (including our own government) are winning. Does anyone have a strong opinion about this?

I don't think they should join, not until they drag themselves up to a better level. Sound harsh? Maybe - but the fact is that the minute they do join Turkey will be empty of Turks, and most will be in the UK or Germany - where it's deemed as rich pickings.

I don't think countries should be barred from joining the EU..as a rule.
But I personally don't want Turkey to join until they get out of Cyprus.
They should never have been allowed occupy it in the first place.

'Come away, oh human child, to the waters and the wild.With a fairy hand in hand...for the world is more full of weeping than you will understand.........'

Aondeag Wrote:But I personally don't want Turkey to join until they get out of Cyprus.
They should never have been allowed occupy it in the first place.

Goodness, I dont think there are many European countries without some kind of colonial past, and I suspect that Turkey has a better reason for being there than most other EU nations ever had for being where they were!

I was just saying why I think they should not be allowed join just yet.
Many disputes today have their origins in the past, but the bitterness and anger is still around.
No body likes being colonised, no body should have to put up with it today.

'Come away, oh human child, to the waters and the wild.With a fairy hand in hand...for the world is more full of weeping than you will understand.........'